How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Columbia Bank
Covers 7 deposit, 2 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Columbia Trust Company
Columbia Trust Company, 1301 A Street, Suite 800, Tacoma, WA 98402
Customer Service (Estate / Deceased Account Notifications)
Estate planning for your Columbia Bank accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
With 11 product types, Columbia Bank offers a range of transfer options. Some accounts support Payable on Death (POD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- Full legal name, date of birth, SSN, and relationship for each beneficiary
- Specify primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations totaling 100%
Special Requirements
- Beneficiary changes cannot be made online
- Completed form must be delivered to the bank (in-branch or by mail)
- Named beneficiaries override instructions in a will
- If designating a trust as beneficiary, a completed Trust Certification Form is also required
Sources
Data sourced from Columbia Bank primary sources (26 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Columbia Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Columbia Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Columbia Trust Company
Columbia Trust Company, 1301 A Street, Suite 800, Tacoma, WA 98402
Customer Service (Estate / Deceased Account Notifications)
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